Thursday, July 18, 2019

Bhagwad Gita - Post 58

Verse 39



Shraddhaavaan labhate jnaanam
Tatparah samyatendriyah;
Jnaanam labdhvaa paraam
Shaantim achirenaadhigacchati.


The man who is full of faith, who is devoted to it, and who has subdued all the senses, obtains (this) knowledge; and, having obtained the knowledge, he goes at once to the Supreme Peace.



In this verse, Sri Krishna describes the attributes we need to cultivate in order to attain knowledge of self-realization. He points out three attributes: faith, devotion and sense control.


Shraddha


The most important qualification that we should have is shraddha, or faith. 


The word Sraddhavan means a person who has faith. Faith is firmly believing. Believing is something that must have a source from where it believed in.


But what specifically should we have faith in? It is four things: faith in scriptures, in our teacher, in ourselves and in the truth of the eternal essence. 

Furthermore, this faith has to come out of utter conviction that the material world is not the be-all and end-all. 

There is a changeless eternal reality behind this ever-changing material world. Unless we are convinced that there is something beyond the material world, we will never develop true faith.


Faith is beyond fact. Fact is seeing / having evidence about something and believing in the same. Beyond this fact is faith. 

Fact says seeing in believing. Faith is Believing (in truth), pursuing in the same and Seeing (experiencing the truth) ultimately. 


Actually, faith is only a translation to a limited sense for Sraddha.  Sraddha is actually much more than “faith”, which a true disciple can only experience fully.

Devotion


In addition to faith, Shri Krishna mentions two more attributes. First is Tatparah, which is the keen intent and focus of the seeker to do what it takes to pursue the path chosen. 


In areas of ignorance you must surrender. Atman is unknown hence devotion is necessary. Consider the Self as supreme. Whatever you do, anchor one aspect of your mind on God. Then the mind is calm and available for intake of knowledge.


There must also be sincere devotion towards the spiritual master while studying the Vedic scriptures under His tutelage.


Actually total Sraddha translates / culminates into total devotion, which only a true disciple / Bhakta can  know.


Control of Senses


Second attribute required is Samyatindriyah, which is restraint and control over the senses. If sense restraint is absent, then our attention would quickly stray away from the spiritual path into the material world.


A person may acquire knowledge by themselves but here are presented all the qualities that are essential for such a person to succeed.  

But there is more, one must also avoid the association of those who are not following the Vedic injunctions, as association with them may cause one to deviate from the path of knowledge, in spite of having faith and be captivated once again by maya or illusion neglecting to study the Vedic scriptures and omitting to serve the spiritual master. 

So only one who is self-controlled attains spiritual knowledge and acquiring such knowledge one neutralizes all extraneous activities and perceives the Brahman or the spiritual substratum pervading all existence and from there achieves atma tattva or soul realization and from that platform attains moksha or liberation from material existence. 

So, a person of faith must follow the age-old process in the proper sequence to attain the coveted goal.


Now, if we develop these qualities and follow the path of knowledge, then we will know that we have gained knowledge through attainment of everlasting peace. 

As long as the ego is present, it generates noise or chatter in the form of selfish thoughts. 


Knowledge of self-realization annihilates the ego, which eliminates the ego’s noise, giving us everlasting peace.


Love.